Plants & Habitat

McAlister Conservation Easement - Workdays

The Guadalupe River Conservancy has asked for our help with the conservation efforts on Doc & Martha McAlister’s property on which they now hold a permanent Conservation Easement.  The areas we will be helping with are:

For Upland Plant Communities:

1. Enhance Native Tree and Shrub Diversity: Through selective thinning of species like Ashe juniper, to promote the growth of less dominant natives, balancing the ecosystem and bolstering biodiversity.

2. Invasive Species Management: Removal of invasive species, particularly King Ranch bluestem, by mechanical removal, prescribed burning, or selective herbicide application to foster the spread of native grasses.

3. Understory Enhancement for Wildlife: create clearings and edge habitats to diversify food & cover for wildlife, benefiting small mammals, birds, & pollinators.

4. Removing years of accumulated man made debris.

For Riparian/Riverine Areas:

1. Riparian Buffer Zone Enhancement: to widen vegetated buffer zones with native plantings to improve water quality and bank stabilization.

2. Invasive Species Control: Johnson grass removal will be a focus, using mechanical and targeted methods to preserve native riparian vegetation.

3. Erosion and Sediment Control: Employing bioengineering techniques, to fortify stream banks and curtail erosion.

4. Wildlife Habitat Improvement: Adding snags and woody debris will enrich habitat complexity, enhancing the riparian ecosystem for aquatic species.

These initiatives are critical to preserving and enriching the property's native biodiversity and providing a haven for local wildlife.

 

To volunteer or for more information contact Wilfred Korth at 361-542-0374 or naturetour12@gmail.com.

 

Report as RM: Other Locations - for any of the above work.

Report as NPA: Other Locations - for trail work

Report as FR: Other Partners - for Bio Blitz work

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CBBEP Rookery-Plant Team

Help grow plants to improve habitat in rookery areas

Grow Tables–Plant Nursery Installation 

- Assisting in planting approximately 2,500 seedlings in our Grow Tables at the Nueces Delta Preserve (Odem, TX)

- These seedlings support ongoing rookery-restoration projects undertaken by the program.

Grow Tables–Weekly Care (Mar–Sep) 

Seeking 1-3 committed volunteers with a solid understanding of plant cultivation techniques, troubleshooting water levels, and addressing insect or fungus issues to:

help from late March until the seedlings are ready for transplant to the local rookery islands in the fall

teach our CBBEP team effective strategies for a successful growing season

One of these volunteers to visit each week and create a rotating schedule

Possible option: tending seedlings at other local locations

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Please complete the CBP volunteer form. Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

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CBBEP Coastal Bird Program

Assist the CBP team with Resource Management or Field Research

Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to assist biologists with Habitat Management, Bird Surveys, or the rookery island cleanups. Please complete the CBP volunteer form.

Habitat Management (Sep–Mar)

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Planting native seedlings on islands

Installing/repairing nesting platforms

Applying herbicide to control invasive grasses

Breeding Bird Counts, Monitoring, Banding (Jan–Sep)

Report as FR: Bird Populations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Suitable for experienced bird observers

Identifying bird species Conducting counts and surveys

Assisting with bird banding efforts

Rookery Island Clean-Up (Oct)

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

A collective effort to clean up trash on rookery islands

Involve your friends and family

Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

 

Nueces Delta Preserve–Preservation Team

Improve NDP habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Our Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries volunteers help with our mission of preserving over 11,000 acres of vital coastal wetland and upland habitats to ensure the Preserve stays clean and operational.

• Volunteers gather typically on the third Monday of every month to assist with various tasks

• Tasks include:

  • removing invasive grasses to improve habitat (report as RM)

  • clearing trails, and painting and repairing signs (report as NPA)

Report as:

• RM: Other Locations if you are improving habitat for wildlife

• NPA: Other Locations if you are working on gardens or trails

• Specify CBBEP NDP as part of Service Performed.

Please complete the NDP volunteer form. Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

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​Nesting Season Prep Opportunities

Help prepare various rookery areas for the nesting season

Little Bay Rookery Islands Preparation – On or about Nov. 30th in the morning

• Date will be zeroed in on as we get closer to account for weather

• Chapter members are invited to join Coastal Birding Program Ecologists to get the islands ready for nesting season

• Wear long-sleeved work clothes, sturdy shoes you do not mind getting into the water, work gloves, and bring plenty of water

  • Will be treating for fire ants

  • Native Plant Installation that CPB will be bringing out: They will drill holes, etc. for us to plant, water and surround with plastic casing.  Can bring a digging tool.

  • Cactus propagation: Bring thorn resistant heavy-duty gloves, grilling tongs, digging tool, and a machete to cut pears

  • Nesting platforms: Tools, power drills and wood screws

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Little Bay Rookery contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Windswept Oaks Rookery Park – Tuesdays/Thursdays – Mid-December through early January – Nesting Material Placement

• Will be retrieving silverleaf sunflower stalks from Aransas Pathways sites and bringing them to the rookery to break up for nesting material

• Pickup truck beds needed, bring a bright rag to tie to materials that extend beyond your truck bed.

• Wear work clothes, work gloves and plenty of water

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Windswept Oaks Rookery contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Rookery Prep on Aransas Waterways

• Meet at D’Ann Williams’ home to go out to various nesting sites in Aransas Bays as weather permits. Dress in work clothes, bring water and snacks

• Will be cutting out fishing line with paddleboards at various mangrove rookeries

  • Will need heavy-duty gloves, scissors/pocket knives, carabiner/line to strap tools to paddleboard

  • Will be supplied Up2U trash bags

• On rookery islands will be treating fire ants, propagating cactus, repairing platforms, removing trash/fishing line

• Will assign areas so you can—on your own—cut out fishing line in other areas via kayaks and paddle boards

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Aransas Waterways Rookeries contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Report all as RM: Other Locations and specify location.

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Calhoun County AgriLife Volunteer Service

List of service opportunities & contact information

Opportunities sponsored by R.J. Shelly, Calhoun County Extension Agent–Coastal & Marine Resources—If you have any questions about any of these projects, or would like to volunteer, please email RJ or call (361) 552-9747.

1. Dr. Gopal Bera, Associate Research Scientist, Texas A & M University, needs Citizen Science Volunteers to collect sand samples from Texas Beaches (both bay and gulf). This is part of a 2-year project that will be looking at petroleum levels in sand on Texas Beaches. A PowerPoint training is available for volunteers that want to collect samples for this project. If you have a number of TMN that are interested in this, Gopal said he would come down to do a training for them. I have the items necessary for sampling, and I can ship the samples back to Gopal using a prepaid FedEx label that I can get from him.
   Report as FR: Other Partners

2. We need volunteers to work with us and the Calhoun County ISD (CCISD) Wetlands Specialist on the following dates at the Formosa Tejano Wetlands in LaWard, TX. We will be doing wetland-oriented education for CCISD students Dec 12-15. (All days will be approximately 8:00 am to 2:45 pm)
   Report as PO: AgriLife

3. The UTMSI Nurdle Patrol could use some volunteers to collect nurdle samples. This could probably be done by the same crew that is collecting sand samples for Gopal, since they are already at a sampling site. I talked to Jace Tunnel with UTMSI. If you need a nurdle sampling kit, I can have him send it to me and I will get the supplies to the person or persons who want to do the sampling, or Jace can send it directly to a TMN Coordinator.
   Report as FR: Other Partners

4. At the Calhoun County Extension Office, our native plant educational garden is looking great! Volunteers are maintaining the garden, and if you would like to volunteer, check your MCTMN roster and contact Donna Bailey.
   Report as NPA: Other locations​​

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Mission-Aransas NERR Service Opportunities

List of volunteer opportunities & links

See details about the list of volunteer opportunities and become a volunteer! For more information about volunteering, please contact Lilly Andersen at 361-749-3153 or lilly.andersen@austin.utexas.edu.

• Citizen Science—Report as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

• Field Experience—FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

• Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK)—RM: ARK rescue/rehab

• Educational Docent— Report as PO: Mission-Aransas NERR
  ~Bay Education Center, Rockport
  ~Wetlands Education Center, Port Aransas
  ~Estuary Explorium

• Invasive Species Control

• Special Event Photographer

• Special Event Staff

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Aransas Pathways Birding & Nature Sites

Improve habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Aransas Pathways properties in Rockport will have an ongoing need for volunteers to create and maintain trails, pollinator gardens, Monarch Waystations, prairie restoration, and improve habitat throughout the properties. Bring water, your favorite tools, and garden gloves. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.

Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary:
Vickie Wilson, Project Leader, has scheduled workdays from 8:00 to 10:00 am (or as long or short as you can to stay):

• Tuesday, October 25th—Wildflower Seed Dispersal

• Watch this space for additional workdays as they are scheduled

Work can include a general clean-up of specific areas and other tasks. Contact Jane Moore if you can volunteer or to ask questions.

Interested in working at one of the other Aransas Pathways sites? Contact Jennifer Heard by email or call her at 361-790-9496 if you have questions, or to find out what needs to be done so you can work a different day or time:

• Ivy Lane Birding & Nature Site

• Aransas County History Center

• Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary

• Tule East or West

• Henderson Property

Reporting:

• If working on gardens or clearing trails, providing education or easier access to the public, report as NPA: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

• If working on improving native habitat for wildlife outside the garden areas, report as RM: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

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Mission-Aransas NERR Learning Opportunities

Mission-Aransas NERR provides learning for all ages. Please Contact Adriana Reza for more information or to book a private tour.

Bay Education Center, Rockport—Science on a Sphere—Interested in Earth System science? Come see a Science On a Sphere presentation! Our room-sized, global display system projects visualizations of planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere to help illustrate Earth System science to people of all ages. This tour is free! Daily Tuesdays-Saturdays at 2:00 PM

Wetlands Education Center, Port Aransas—Our WEC is home to many different plants and animals. Walk along this trail system with a knowledgeable naturalist who will share information about the many creatures that call this habitat home. This tour is free! 9:00am Tuesdays & Thursdays

Fennessey Ranch Tours, near Refugio—In addition to the world class birding opportunities, the 3,261-acre wildlife oasis is home to numerous species of plants, mammals, reptiles, insects, and amphibians. The Ranch has several custom-built wildlife viewing and photography blinds. Each blind is strategically placed in areas of high wildlife activity and generally near water sources. Guided tours are offered for 1-6 people. Half day trips generally run from 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., $100 per person. Full day trips are 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., $150 per person. Tour times can be adjusted to accommodate your group. For information on booking a tour, please contact Joan Garland, Outreach Program Coordinator, or call (361) 749-6806.

For Kids

R/V Katy, Port Aransas—The R/V Katy takes school groups out for an unforgettable experience on the water. We collect plankton, benthic creatures, fish, shrimp, crabs, and learn about ocean ecosystems through hands-on exploration. To schedule, contact Kimber Montanye at kimber.montanye@austin.utexas.edu

Estuary Explorium, Port Aransas—On Wednesday mornings, we have story time in the Estuary Explorium! Each week there is a new story and take-home craft to enjoy. Recommended for ages 3-7, but children of any age are welcome. 10:30am Wednesdays

Would you like to help at any of these facilities?  Become a Mission-Aransas NERR volunteer!

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Milkweeds & Monarchs Project

Milkweed Seed Collection and Monarch Waystations

When: beginning now
Where: in our 8-county area

The goal of the project is to create Monarch butterfly habitat in the 8-county Mid-Coast chapter region in response to increasing concerns about the Monarch butterfly. This project will be carried out under the auspices of the national Monarch Watch “Monarch Waystation” program. Expected benefits are to increase Monarch butterfly populations, build public awareness of Monarchs and native habitat, and provide opportunities for scientific research monitoring of Monarch larval and adult populations. Mid-Coast chapter members are requested to:

1. Collect seeds of native milkweeds that will be used to create or expand Monarch habitat in our 8-county Mid-Coast region through the “Monarch Waystation” program. This step is necessary due to limited availability of native milkweeds.

2. Participate in a companion effort to identify potential Monarch Waystation sites in our 8-county region with a goal of at least one waystation in each of the 8 counties, with particular emphasis on publicly accessible sites, including schools.

Future activities may include milkweed and Monarch monitoring under the Monarch Watch: TPWD Nature Trackers program.

More information:

• Contact Patrick Hartigan for more information about the whole project, seed collection and storage, and collecting on private property.

• Download “Identification of Milkweeds in Texas”

• Learn about Monarch Waystations

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Boggy Nature Park

Boggy Nature Park is approximately 85 acres on Boggy Bayou outside Port O’Connor, TX. Immediate needs are: identifying plants, suggesting habitat improvements, and TMN counsel and advice in supporting these unique public lands. Long-range work may include planting native plants, removing invasives, and improving public access. To be in on the ground floor of habitat improvement and park enhancement,  contact Allan Berger. Reporting is task-dependent.

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Aransas First Properties

Aransas First is a 501(c)(3) corporation acting as a Land Trust. Its purpose is to identify, acquire, and protect sensitive Coastal Bend habitat essential to the nurture of birds, wildlife, and people as well as to increase public awareness of ecosystems unique to the Live Oak Peninsula/Ingleside Barrier through education, access, and participation. Volunteers are needed to develop/clear/mow trails, remove invasive vegetation, and clean up as needed at Aransas First properties:

• Aransas Woods and Wetlands—Texas Coastal Birding Trail #46

• Cove Harbor Boardwalk and wetlands

• Myrtle Street Wetland

• Woods Beachfront and Dunes-Mustang Island

• Lamar-Burton Wetlands: 105 acres N of Seaside Loop on HiWay35

Call Earl Matthew at 361-790-3074 for more information or to volunteer.

Report as NPA: Other Locations if the work is trail-related. Specify the property in the description.
Report as RM: Other Locations and specify the property in the description for all habitat improvement work

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Nurdle Patrol!

A nurdle is a plastic pellet that serves as raw material in the manufacturing of plastic products. Nurdles are washing up on our beaches by the millions. They look like food to animals, but they are indigestible and they absorb other toxins in the environment so can be deadly to some animals. Nurdle Patrol is a Gulf-wide, citizen-science project looking to gather information about where nurdles are located across Gulf of Mexico beaches, remove them from the environment, and create awareness about the nurdle issue. Take the training video to participate in this project.

Report training as AT: Specific Project
Report volunteer service as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

See the training video, submit data and view reported data

Report as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR with “Nurdle Patrol” in the description.